As of 10 October 2020, driving in Palermo is now a more complicated task, as the city has joined the inclusion in its busiest streets in the centre of the city of the so-called ZTL (i.e. limited traffic zones) to control carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Want to know all about the ZTL in Palermo? Read on!
As you may already know from what happens in other Italian capitals such as Florence or Milan, even in Rome, the ZTL regulation restricts access, traffic and parking of unauthorised vehicles during certain hours of the day in certain streets of the city where it applies. In this particular case, the Palermo ZTL includes the most famous districts of the Sicilian capital: La Loggia, Kalsa, Albergheria and Monte di Pietà, on whose streets the ZTL will be active from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 20:00. During these hours, no vehicle may enter these areas without prior authorisation and payment of a municipal fee.
The permits made available by Palermo City Council include the payment of a municipal fee, the cost of which varies depending on the type of vehicle wishing to enter. This permit must be acquired before accessing the ZTL.
Not all vehicles may apply for these permits, nor are all vehicles required to pay the municipal fee: non-resident Euro 0, 1 and 2 petrol vehicles (i.e. petrol vehicles manufactured before 1996) and Euro 0, 1, 2 and 3 diesel vehicles (i.e. diesel vehicles manufactured before 2000) are not entitled to these permits. On the other hand, electric vehicles, vehicles transporting persons with reduced mobility, mopeds and motorbikes, as well as vehicles belonging to law enforcement and emergency services, AMAT vehicles (i.e. public transport) and vehicles belonging to public bodies are exempt from paying this fee.
The permits and costs for access to the Palermo ZTL are as follows:
- Daily permit: the permit for authorised petrol and diesel vehicles will be blue in colour and cost €5. On the other hand, petrol/electric, petrol/methane and petrol/gas hybrid vehicles will get a green permit at a cost of 2.50€.
- Monthly permit, at a cost of €20 for petrol vehicles and authorised diesel vehicles, and at a cost of €10 for petrol/electric, petrol/methane and petrol/gas hybrid vehicles.
- Half-yearly permit (6 months): at a cost of €50 for petrol and diesel licensed vehicles, and at a cost of €25 for petrol/electric, petrol/methane and petrol/gas hybrids.
- Annual permit: available to residents of the Palermo ZTL.
- Special permit: it is possible to request and purchase a temporary pass for customers who have a hotel or car park reservation, in which case the hotel or car park staff will be able to arrange this directly at reception.
And where can you apply for these permits? Very simple!
- Through the official website of the Parlemo Town Council, via the following link: ZTL Permit Palermo
- at the AMAT points of sale
- at the counters of ACI (the municipal road and street maintenance agency)
- day passes can also be purchased at some bars, tobacco shops and newsagents.
Do you want to know the current regulations for the Palermo ZTL? Click on the following link to find out more: ZTL Palermo